Ong Kee Soon is the second son of Mr. Ong Chong Chew. His father, Ong Chong Chew passed away in 1888 and was buried in his private cemetery in Telok Blangah before relocated to a cemetery nearby Bukit Brown. In 1872, 3 Ong clansman from Bai Jiao (White Rock) village, Ong Ewe Hai (王友海) ,Ong Kew Ho (王求和) and Ong Chong Chew (王宗周) each contributed 500 dollars totalling 1,500 dollars bought a piece of land 221 acres for the Ong Clan to settled. Part of it became cemetery land and part of it became Bukit Brown when around 1918/19 the government acquired part of the Ong clan land, which was 98 acres for Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery.
Ong Kee Soon passed away at the age of 58 on 11 March 1925 at No. 6 Scott's Road. He leaves behind his widow, 2 sons, Ong Siew Kiam and Ong Siew Jiang, 1 daughter, Ong Seok Choo (Mrs. Chew Chew Lak).
Ong Kee Soon (source: The Journey from White Rock) |
Family
Wife: Mrs. Ong Kee Soon nee Seow Pin Neo
Mrs. Ong Kee Soon nee Seow Pin Neo passed away at the age of 85 on 10 November 1950 at 14 Scotts Road. She leaves behind 2 sons (Ong Siew Kiam and Ong Siew Jiang), 1 daughter (Mrs. Chew Chew Lak), 2 daughters-in-law, 15 grandchildren and 17 great grand children.
The names of the children etched on her tomb are as follows;
Sons: Ong Siew Kiam, Ong Siew Jiang
Daughter: Ong Siok Choo
Grandsons: Ong Kim Seng, Ong Tiang Kiat, Ong Chong Hai, Ong Kok Hua , Ong Hood Chye
Granddaughters: Ong Guek Neo, Ong Guek Kim, Ong Guek Chwee, Cheong Kim Hua
Mrs. Ong Kee Soon nee Madam Seow Pin Neo |
Father: Ong Chong Chew.
Ong Chong Chew passed away in 1888 and was buried in his private cemetery in Telok Blangah before relocated to a cemetery nearby Bukit Brown. Ong Chong Chew remains was relocated again in 2021 to Seh Ong Charity.
Mother: Mrs. Ong Chong Chew nee Nonia Sin Neo
Nonia Sin Neo, (likely Madam Tan Sin Neo) mother of Mr.Ong Kee Soon, passed away at her residence River Valley Road at 17 September 1911.
Son: Ong Siew Kiam (1889-1975)
Ong Siew Kiam was the president of the Cheng Kee Hean Association (1931). Ong Siew Kiam has a bungalow at Beting Kusa. In 13 July 1909, Ong Siew Kiam became a partner of Steam Saw-Millers and Timber Merchants (Teck Choon & Co.) of No 52, Lavender Street. Ong Siew Kiam married Madam Yeo Siew Kee (1899-1972)
His children from what i can find from newspaper archives
Sons: Ong Kim Seng, Ong Kim Peng
Daughter: Ong Guek Neo
Daughter: Ong Seok Tin (died 1918)
Ong Seok Tin married Cheong Chee Yang. I suspect Cheong Kim Hua (listed as granddaughter on the tomb of Madam Seow Pin Neo) is their daughter.
Son: Ong Siew Jiang (1897-1972)
Ong Siew Jiang was the President of the Young Men's Friendly Society (1935). Ong Siew Jiang married Madam Khoo Swee Neo (1899-1966)
His children from what i can from the newspaper archives
Son: Ong Wee Loo, Ong Kok Hua
Daughter: Ong Lian Neo / Nellie Ong
Daughter: Ong Seok Choo (1898-1982)
Madam Ong Seok Choo married Chew Chew Lak (died 1942).
Grandson: Ong Kim Seng
Ong Kim Seng (son of Mr. and Mrs. Ong Siew Kiam ) married Miss Chew Suat Neo (daughter of Mr. Chew Hock Seng of the Ho Ho Biscuit Factory) at 14 Scotts Road on December 1936.
Ong Kim Seng |
There was mention in the newspapers of an invitation to the Cheng Kee Hian Association members to dinner at his residence at 14 Scotts Road, pm on December 1936 in honor of his son, Mr. Ong Kim Peng marriage.
Granddaughter: Madam Ong Guek Neo
Seow Sian Chye (eldest son of Mr. Seow Siew Kim) and Miss Ong Guek Neo (eldest daughter of Mr. Ong Siew Kiam). The were married at York House, Scotts Road on November 1934.
Madam Ong Guek Neo |
Granddaughter: Ong Lian Neo / Nellie Ong
Mr. E. Tean Cheng of Ford Motors, Singapore was married to Miss Ong Lian Neo (Nellie Ong) , the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ong Siew Jiang at York House, Scotts Road, the residence of the bride's parent on 15 December 1940.
Mr. E. Tean Cheng is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E Yean Kiat. Dr. Ho Siu Kan officiated.
Ong Lian Neo / Nellie Ong |
Grandson: Ong Wee Loo
Ong Wee Loo (son of Mr. and Mrs. Ong Siew Jiang) married Miss Wee Chye Eng (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wee Kah Kiat).
Grandson: Ong Kok Hua
The engagement is announced between Ong Kok Hua (fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. Ong Siew Jiang) and Juliet Sheila (elder daughter of the late Mr. Tan Toon Lay and Mrs. S.C. Mitchel-hill of Hounslow, England.
York House, No. 6 Scotts Road
Interestingly enough 6 Scotts Road or York House was mentioned in many articles as the residence of the Ong's. In 1911, York House at Scott's house was the residence of Choa Giang Thye and family. An August 1911 gives detail the extend of the place before it was sold off. It then change hands, with it under N.A. Rospopoff in August 1912, then in December 1912 under Guston, M. Eventually it was under the Ong's but i can't find the transfer timeline.
York House at 6 Scotts Road |
Tomb of Ong Kee Soon
Below are pictures of the tomb of Ong Kee Soon at Seh Ong. It has a unique pair of Indian Army Guards.
[research on-going]
References
The Journey from White Rock: The Ong Chong Chew Family Tree (2006). Ong Chwee Im
Ong Chong Chew Found ! (website). Bukit Brown.com
The tree has roots, water has its source - story of Seh Ong Ancestral Temple. (website). Bukit Brown Cemetery : Our Roots, Our Future.
Remains of Chinese pioneer merchant, who donated land for Bukit Brown, moved from cemetery. (website). The Straits Times, Clement Yong, 16 Mar 2021
ONG Kee Soon 王祈顺. (website) Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
ONG Kee Soon 王祈顺. (website). Geni.com
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